2021 Subaru Outback fuel/propulsion system problems
10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the fuel/propulsion system on the 2021 Subaru Outback — 3% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“SUDDEN AACCELERATION: Cold started the car in garage, all OK. Then backed out and into turn around where I placed foot on the brake. At that moment suddenly accelerated and engine revved to 2000rpm (sounded like). I had to push down very hard on the brake pedal (where my foot already was) to stop…”
filed Sep 26, 2025
“ON thursday night at about [XXX] i was driving in the carpool lane going north.in the [XXX] , with full tank of gas ; suddenly i felt and here a noise, and the vehicle (2021outback base) start losing power, at the point that totally stop. call 911, and few minutes after the hway patrol came and…”
filed Aug 30, 2024
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Fuel/propulsion System problems in other Outback years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 2 | 3% |
| 2024 Outback | 2 | 2% |
| 2023 Outback | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 Outback | 6 | 1% |
| 2020 Outback | 14 | 2% |
| 2019 Outback | 23 | 2% |
| 2018 Outback | 43 | 5% |
| 2017 Outback | 16 | 2% |
| 2016 Outback | 13 | 2% |
| 2015 Outback | 18 | 4% |
| 2014 Outback | 12 | 6% |
| 2013 Outback | 12 | 4% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Subaru Outback
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.